The evaluation of factors influencing bicycle trips in a heritage city (a case study on cycling tourist in Anuradhapura ancient city)

Abstract

The leisure cycling is an environmentally friendly tours by a bicycle alone a route while experiencing nature and blending with the local neighbourhood. As one of the one of Sri Lanka's top tourist destinations, Anuradhapura is an ancient city with a historical significance. This research study is aiming to analyse the factors affecting the tourist on leisure cycling. The study had designed into two phases. The phase I of the study was conducted using questionnaire survey with a sample of 112 foreign/local tourist. The factorial analysis using principal component analysis method has used to extract eight factors i.e., connectivity, automobile interaction, road signs, street lighting, secured parking, rentability, cycle renting cost, and guided tours. A stated preference survey was conducted by providing two hypothetical cycling options created based on the attributes obtained from phase I and respondents were requested to select the option based on their preference. The phase II analysis had conducted with a sample of 870 choice responses. The findings revealed that automobile interaction, secure parking, and guided tours have considerable impact on local tourists in choosing leisure cycling within the ancient city of Anuradhapura. Five attributes, i.e., connectivity, automobile interaction, road signs, street lighting, guided tour has created higher level of impact on foreign tourist in cycling selection. The covid 19 pandemic and economic crisis caused a limitation in tourist population hence convenient sampling approach was adopted. The further developments can be done by increasing the number of observations to increase the model best fitness. This study has taken a broad look at the aspects that may influence the development of cycling within the ancient city of Anuradhapura to provide sustainable mobility